Baleària’s Second Ferry Progresses Remotorization to LNG

May 3, 2019 | Spain: Barcelona | Source: Baleària

The work of refitting Baleària’s ferry Abel Matutes for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion has progressed to the installation of LNG tanks. Cryonorm supplied two systems, each with 170 m3 LNG storage tank and tank connection space (TCS) holding all required components for regassification of the LNG to be send to the dual-fuel engines.

The reconversion of the ferry to natural gas consists in changing its two current main engines MAK 9M 43 C to dual MAK engines 9M 46 DF (dual-fuel). It is expected that the remotorization works will finish at the end of June. Thereafter the vessel will commence trials.

The Abel Matutes ferry, following the plan of the shipping company to modernize its fleet so that in 2021 nine of its ships sail on natural gas, is the second vessel to undergo refitting. The first was the ferry Nápoles; to follow will be the Martin i Soler, Bahama Mama, Sicilia and Hedy Lamarr ferries.

Balearia’s commitment to liquefied natural gas

Baleària has opted to incorporate liquefied natural gas into its ships, an initiative that began eight years ago and responds to criteria of social responsibility and economic profitability, ahead of the stringent regulations on polluting gases. At the end of 2021, the shipping company will have nine ships sailing with this clean energy, of which 3 will be newly constructed (one of them is already sailing in the Mediterranean) and six will be the result of the remotorization work that is being carried out in its fleet and that have a subsidy of 20% from the European Union. In 2019, Baleària was the first company to navigate with smart ships powered by natural gas, both in the Mediterranean and in connections with the Canary Islands.

Liquefied natural gas is a clean and environmentally friendly fuel, and far exceeds current and future regulations on pollution. Its use implies the reduction of CO2 emissions by up to 35%, NOx by 85% and sulfur and particles by 100%, which has an immediate effect of improving air quality and reducing the greenhouse effect.

In a separate press release, Cryonorm says the growing market potential for gas-fuelled vessels is the company’s main motivation to develop and market a standard range of high quality marine LNG fuel systems for seagoing vessels, as well as inland waterway barges. LNG-powered ships readily comply with the highest emission standards.